GENERAL EDUCATION PROPOSAL FINAL DRAFT
Summary of Requirements
Natural Science 8 hours
Social Science 6 hours
Foreign Language 6 hours
Mathematics 4 hours
Arts 4 hours
Writing 6 hours
Humanities 16 hours
Physical Education 2 hours
Bibliography Proficiency
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Total 55 hours
General Note:
The Academic Policies Committee will be responsible for reviewing courses
suitable for general education as well as making recommendations concerning
further specification or modification of the general curriculum.
Natural Science (8 hours)
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Students must take one course from each of the following categories:
1. A 5-hour course from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. This course must
include a laboratory, must treat the historical development of
the science, must explicitly employ and discuss the scientific
method, must be interdisciplinary where feasible, and may not be the
first course in a sequence taken by majors. An 8-hour sequence
with laboratory from Chemistry, Physics, or Biology may substitute for
the 5-hour course.
2. A 3-hour course from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Atmospheric
Sciences, Environmental Studies, or Special Topics Courses.
These courses need not include a laboratory but must be
interdisciplinary in content. Upper-level science courses may
be interdisciplinary enough in scope for science majors to satisfy
this requirement.
Rationale:
In general education students need both breadth and depth in their science
experience. The first course provides depth through the content and
methodology of a single science. Laboratory experience is essential to
understand the method of science. Choices are limited to Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics due to their fundamental character. The second
course is designed to provide breadth and perspective. Courses from
Atmospheric Sciences and Environmental Studies are especially suitable
for this 3-hour requirement because they are interdisciplinary in nature.
Courses may be developed in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics that meet the
goals of the 3-hour requirement.
Social Science (6 hours)
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Six hours are required in the social sciences. Two courses must be chosen
from two different disciplines to include Economics, Political Science,
Psychology, Sociology, or interdisciplinary courses developed from these.
Courses appropriate will emphasize the cultural and historical context of the
discipline, and, where feasible, its interdisciplinary origins. No more than
one course required as a major or cognate course in any major will count
toward the six hours.
Rationale:
All students should be aware of the social sciences as ways of understanding
distinct from those of other fields of inquiry. Because this is a general
education requirement, no more than one of these courses may be dictated by
major and cognate requirements.
Foreign Language (6 hours)
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Students must complete a two-course sequence of 6 hours in a single foreign or
classical language combining intensive conversational study of the language
(except in the case of classical languages) with the study of its associated
culture. Students whose scores on a placement exam show them to be at the
intermediate level may satisfy this requirement by taking one intermediate
level course.
Rationale:
Language study expands intellectual horizons and provides the basis for
communication in a pluralistic world. Although classical languages do not
emphasize conversational skills, they provide important insights into the
relations among languages, cultures, and forms of thought.
Mathematics (4 hours)
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A student must complete a 4-hour course at the level of college algebra
emphasizing word problems. Completion of 3 hours of mathematics at a higher
level satisfies this requirement.
Rationale:
The study of mathematics is a traditional component of liberal education.
College-level algebra is a reasonable minimum for a high quality liberal
arts institution. Word problem skills are helpful and show the student
the practical role of mathematics in many areas.
Arts (4 hours)
----
A student must take a 4-hour interdisciplinary course with studio entitled
"Art as a Way of Knowing." This is not an art appreciation course or
an introduction to any of the particular arts, but stresses the human
significance of art, its social role, its foundation in aesthetics, and its
importance as a way of interpreting reality.
Rationale:
Artistic creation and aesthetic experience represent a distinct way of knowing
which draws upon intuition, feeling, sensation, and thought. This course may
incorporate elements of arts history and appreciation; psychology; study of
materials, media, and form; experiment and participation; analysis of popular
forms; and attendance at performances, exhibits, etc.
Writing (6 hours)
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The student meets the writing requirement through one of the following:
1. a high pass on a writing competency exam administered by the Department
of Literature and a three-hour advanced writing course;
2. two 3-hour college level courses in writing and a pass on the
writing competency exam.
Rationale:
Most students need the experience of two courses in writing to reach the level
of competence expected of college students. Some students with superior
preparation will only need one course at an advanced level to perfect their
skills. The examination can serve both for placement and for exit competency.
Humanities (16 hours)
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A four-course sequence of 16 hours covering the ancient world, the rise of
European civilization, the modern world, and the future and the individual is
required of all students.
Rationale:
An interdisciplinary course sequence from the humanistic disciplines following
the historical development of civilization has traditonally been at the center
of liberal education at UNCA. The faculty approves of the Humanities sequence
in its current form as the foundation for general education at UNCA. It is
assumed that the courses will continue to evolve in response to faculty and
student concerns and needs.
Physical Education (2 hours)
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The physical education requirement is a sequence of two 1-hour courses. The
first course emphasizes concepts concerning health, fitness, emotion, and
self-concept. It also assesses individual health risk and fitness levels.
The second course is an activities course which emphasizes basic physical
development. Because of the laboratory nature of this second course, it meets
for two hours per week for the entire semester. The second course will be
graded on a pass/fail basis.
Rationale:
Development of the physical self is essential to a productive and fulfilling
life, but this development must have a theoretical foundation. Hence the
requirement includes one theoretical course and one activities course. The
activities course may include more than one activity.
Bibliography
____________
All students must pass a competency examination administered by the library
prior to taking the first Humanities course. Students who do not pass this
examination by this time must take a 1-hour Bibliography course concurrently
with the first Humanities course.
Rationale:
The ability to use the library must be developed early to be of use to
students. The Bibliography course will cover in more detail the topics on the
competency examination. In order to encourage students to review their skills
and exempt the course, the library will make study materials on the topics of
the examination available to students.